safe-injection site

There is a shelter for drug users opening up a few blocks from my house. It will be less then 100 meters from Stefan's play school.

I think I was the only parent not completely outraged by this. Not that I am excited to see it open.

First I would like to make it clear that I do not agree with the terms of the house. They say it will be housing drug addicts that they know are using drugs but they can not use them in the house.

One of the biggest concerns is the needles that are found, and will probably be found in increasing numbers, on the playgrounds.

Most people think these people should be put somewhere else. I do not agree with this.

Everyone knows the problems are downtown. The drugs are downtown, the substance abusers are downtown, what is the use in having a house for them in the middle of nowhere. It is not like there is a cheap bus they can catch.

Maybe people should look a positive example of the possible benefits of a house like this (with a few changes).

This house in Vancouver is downtown, where the problems are. They allow them to do the drugs there with clean needles in a safe place. The spread of AIDS in this area has seen a huge drop. Because help is always available in the building, people have been accepting it and doing well. Crime has dropped the neighbourhood is cleaner.... seems like a win win situation. Maybe others could learn from it.

You can find more information on INSITE here http://www.vch.ca/sis/

Although I do not like the terms of the house opening next to a play school, I believe it has the potential to be a good thing. With some good management and open minds, it might start to help the people.

This is what is needed in downtown Reykjavik.